Lenovo laptop water damage indicator

How to Detect if a Computer Has Water Damage

Water is perhaps one of your computer's worst enemies, causing damage even in small amounts. Water can damage every component inside your computer, including the motherboard, CPU, hard drive and optical drives. It can be hard to determine if your computer has been damaged by liquids or if the problem has been caused by something else. If you can open your computer's case, you may be able to find visible signs of water exposure.

Visual Inspection

One of the most efficient ways to determine if your computer has liquid damage is to visually inspect it. Start by looking at the case to see if there is leftover liquid or residue to determine if water has been able to make its way inside to your computer's components. If so, unplug the computer as soon as possible, as liquid and electricity do not mix. If you're able to open the case safely, visually inspect the components inside, keeping an eye out for residue, discoloration and corrosion. These could be signs of liquid damage that may need to be repaired before the computer will function properly.

Corrosion

Computers contain different types of metal, including copper. Sometimes copper can leave a green residue if it has been exposed to liquids. If you open your computer's case to find that the copper components have turned green, or there is a green residue around them, this can be a clear indication that the computer has been exposed to water or condensation. Some cooling fans inside the computer can be made of copper, and you may find corrosion in or around those areas as well.

Diagnosing Components

It's possible that only certain components have been damaged by water, so instead of writing off the computer as a total loss, remove and replace components piece by piece to determine if they have been damaged. Start by removing the CPU, RAM, hard drive, video card, sound card and optical drives. Replace each component one at a time, and attempt to restart the computer every time you do so. This can help isolate which piece of hardware has been damaged, and allow you to replace or repair each part as necessary. Keep in mind that this may not work if the motherboard has been damaged.

Drying Process

If you find evidence that the computer has been damaged by liquids, or there is still liquid inside the computer, let it dry out. Remove all the liquid you can by using a soft towel on each component, and then take them out of the computer's case. Let the components dry overnight before trying to power the computer back on, and be sure to check for any leftover liquid before doing so. If you find any residue from the liquid once it has dried, use rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth to remove it. If in doubt, bring your computer to a local repair shop for a diagnosis or repair.

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